ROB HOWLEY believes Wales can bounce back from their "thoroughly embarrassing" Dublin debacle and turn the Six Nations form book upside down against France tomorrow.

And scrum-half Howley has also promised shell-shocked Welsh rugby fans they will never see a repeat of that 54-10 humiliation.

Within 72 hours of Wales collapsing like never before against a rampant Irish side, national coach Graham Henry had left his #250,000-a-year job.

Henry's fellow New Zealander Steve Hansen has now taken the reins in a caretaker capacity for the remaining Six Nations appointments with France, Italy, England and Scotland, but Howley knows that it is the players who must deliver.

France won 36-3 on their last Millennium Stadium visit two years ago and, although Bernard Laporte's team have been by hit by injuries and suspensions, the 1999 World Cup finalists are firm favourites to compound Welsh misery.

Former Wales captain Howley though, insists that Wales should not be written off, despite losing four of their last five Tests.

"We often give our best with our backs to the wall," he said. "We've found ourselves in this situation time and time again.

"I remember us losing to Ireland and Scotland in the first couple of games of a previous championship, and then we went to France and won when nobody gave us a cat in hell's chance.

"If we can win equal possession and play territorial position, then we will have a great opportunity to redeem ourselves.

There have been a great many highs over the last few years with Graham, and I am sure that there are some on the horizon with Steve.

"He's been put in a position as head coach after just one game as assistant, but he has taken all the responsibility in his stride.

"His man-management skills are awesome and, although he's new to the role, hopefully by the end of the Six Nations he will have made his mark."

Hansen certainly refused to press any panic buttons in the wake of events at Lansdowne Road, or the fallout caused by Henry's exit.